Experience Level: Intermediate (have taken BW1 and 2 or similar experience) 

Take your weaving skills to the next step at Beyond Beginning Weaving on Saturdays, August 15, 22, and 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium. 

This three-day class is designed to help weavers who want to expand their learning in the craft. Students will learn new skills in drafting as well as tied-weaves, double weaves, and other patterns using a 4-shaft loom. By the end of this course, students will have knowledge of additional weave structures and a sample book to take home.  

$290/person*. Register here. Registration will close May 2 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final. 

*Students should bring a 4-shaft loom if they have one. All other supplies will be provided, including a loom if needed. 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia at owarren@illinois.edu. 

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken. 

About the instructor 

Sharon Bowles began weaving in 1990 and started teaching shortly after. She was taught to weave in a one-on-one class and wove two table runners in 12 (approximately) 2-hour lessons, and she teaches the same method when she teaches. Sharon has experience in weaving with silk, lace weaving, 8-shaft pattern weaving, parallel weaving, block weaves, and Shaker reproduction towels. 

She has taught many workshops and classes to weavers’ guilds in Florida, Ohio, and Champaign-Urbana. She earned her Journeyman certification from the Weavers Guild of Boston in 2021 and a master’s certification in April of 2022. Most recently, Sharon taught Beginning Weaving I at The Farms, and a 2-day workshop in four shaft patterns for the Champaign-Urbana Spinners and Weavers Guild. 

Experience Level: Intermediate 

Get outside and express your creativity at Plein Air Painting on Friday through Sunday, Sept. 4 through 6 from 12 to 4 p.m. in the Studio. 

Plein air painting can feel overwhelming at first — easels, changing light, color mixing, wind, and trying to paint outdoors all at once! This workshop is designed especially for intermediate painters who want a supportive introduction to painting outside. If you have had some drawing and painting instruction, and are ready to continue increasing your skills and understanding, this workshop will be a great fit for you.

Instructor Deb Marett will lead students on the core skills that make plein air painting easier and more enjoyable. Students will learn how to set up their materials efficiently, simplify what they see, mix clean natural color, and recognize strong value relationships in the landscape.

Students will work through short studies and practical exercises to build your confidence in handling paint and observing. You’ll also watch demos to help you understand the approach and decision-making process for creating a successful piece. This workshop is ideal for artists who are new to plein air painting or who want to strengthen their foundational painting skills in a relaxed environment. You’ll come away with all the tools you need to continue to explore the countryside, brush in hand!

All painting mediums are welcome including oils, acrylics, watercolor, and pastel. 

$175/person* (ages 15+). Regististration closes on Aug. 28 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final. 

*Students should plan to bring their favorite painting supplies in the medium of their choice. Please find a full supply list here.

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu. 

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken. 

About the instructor 

Deb Marrett is a professional artist whose work focuses on equestrian and figurative scenes as well as portraiture. She always travels with her watercolors and a travel journal. 

“It is an amazing way to remember moments of the trip, and spend time soaking up the places I visit,” she said. 

Deb loves sharing her knowledge by teaching and finding ways to make painting and drawing fun and accessible to those wanting to explore their creative side.

Experience Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Achieve that goal of learning to play a musical instrument at Learn Guitar: Get Started the Right Way on Tuesdays, Sept. 15 through Nov. 17 from 6 to 7 p.m. in The Studio.

Leading this course will be musician Rex Parvin, who has a very specific approach to teaching guitar based on a simple terminology he applies specifically to the guitar. It is essentially a 3-step process:

— Learn the notes on the guitar
— Learn how those notes go together to form chords.
— Apply and combine steps 1 and 2 to form chords and play songs, developing your own style and creative expression.

$200/person*. Registration will close on Sept. 11. All sales are final.

*Students should bring their own guitar.

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia Bunting at owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Rex Parvin knew from early adolescence that his primary passion in life was music, having taken guitar lessons and learning to read music starting at age five. He learned how to conduct choirs in high school and went to college as a voice major, getting bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education, specializing in voice and conducting.

Rex’s musical abilities and passions led to a 30-year career as a full-time music director, studio musician, conductor, and guitar teacher. He is a “people person” who loves to interact with others and see them grow in their abilities and understanding of music, encouraging them to new levels of excellence. Those who have learned from him have always commented that they learned many new things in ways that were easily understandable and created a hunger to learn even more.

Experience Level: Beginner (ages 15+)

Do you have some experience with watercolor and are ready to take your skills to the next level? Join us for Intermediate Watercolor on Friday through Sunday, Oct. 2-4 from 12-4 p.m. in The Studio. 

This class will explore techniques for controlling washes, layering transparent color, and creating richer, more confident compositions. Students will experiment with both planned and spontaneous approaches while learning how to bring depth, light, and texture to their work.  

Each session includes demonstrations, guided practice, and plenty of personal feedback. Come ready to paint, experiment, and grow as you develop your own watercolor style. 

$170/person*. Registration closes Sept. 25 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.  

*Students should bring: 

--Watercolor paint 
--A flat palette/mixing tray large enough to work with several colors at once,  
--Brushes (flat and round, one of the flats at least 1” wide (flat). At least one squirrel hair brush recommended, but not required).  
--Watercolor paper – 100% cotton highly recommended. 
--A sponge or rag.  
--Photos that the student may wish to paint — either on their phone or printed out. 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu. 

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken. 

About the Instructor 

Deb Marett is a professional artist whose work focuses on equestrian scenes, figurative scenes, and portraiture. She always travels with watercolors and a travel journal. “It is an amazing way to remember moments of the trip and spend time soaking up the places I visit.” Deb loves sharing her knowledge, teaching and finding ways to make painting and drawing fun and accessible to anyone who wants to explore their creative side. 

Experience Level: Some weaving experience required

Have you taken Beginning Weaving 1 and want to continue your craft? Do so at Beginning Weaving II on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium.

This 2-day class with instructor Sharon Bowles will be a continuation of Beginning Weaving I, but instead of everyone doing the same article, students will pick their own project, measure the warp, beam the warp, thread the heddles to their selected pattern, thread the reed, tie the warp to the cloth beam rod, wind bobbins and weave a sample of their selected yarn. Students will then weave samples from the other looms, giving them a wide variety of weave structures they can try out.

This course is a great way to continue your weaving journey!

$250/person*. Registration will close Oct. 10 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring a 4-shaft loom if they have one. All other supplies will be provided, including a loom if needed.

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken.

About the instructor

Sharon Bowles began weaving in 1990 and started teaching shortly after. She was taught to weave in a one-on-one class and wove two table runners in 12 (approximately) 2-hour lessons, and she teaches the same method when she teaches. Sharon has experience in weaving with silk, lace weaving, 8-shaft pattern weaving, parallel weaving, block weaves, and Shaker reproduction towels.

Sharon has experience in weaving with silk, lace weaving, 8-shaft pattern weaving, parallel weaving, block weaves, and Shaker reproduction towels. She has taught many workshops and classes to weavers’ guilds in Florida, Ohio, and Champaign-Urbana. She earned her Journeyman certification from the Weavers Guild of Boston in 2021 and a master’s certification in April of 2022.

Most recently, Sharon taught Beginning Weaving I & Weaving II at The Farms, and a 2-day workshop in 4 shaft patterns for the Champaign-Urbana Spinners and Weavers Guild.

Experience Level: Beginner 

Fall is the perfect time to knit a winter hat. Knit a hat for yourself, a new baby, or a knit worthy friend or family member at Knitting 201: Hats on Sunday, Oct. 25 & Nov. 1 from 1-4 p.m. in the Studio.  

“Knitting 201: Hats” is designed to further your knitting skills by expanding on “Knitting 101: Knitting for Beginners,” or for someone who is proficient in knitting garter stitch. In this workshop, students will practice reading knitting patterns, determine size, gauge, cast on in the round using those mysterious double pointed knitting needles, learn to work magic loop on a long circular, stay on track with stitch markers, knit rib stitch, work garter and stockinette for visual interest, decrease, and correct mistakes. Additionally, the class will talk about pom poms, blocking and caring for hand knits. 

$95/person*. Registration closes Oct. 18 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.  

Students should bring the following: 

OPTION 1 YARN 

--1 skein (2 skeins of the same dye lot for adult large) Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Merino. This is classified as DK/Light Worsted weight yarn made of 100% Merino Wool. There are 220 yards per skein. Available in 82 colors. It is machine washable. Avoid purchasing a dark colorway. 

OR 

OPTION 2 YARN 

--1 skein (2 skeins of the same dye lot for adult large) Lion Brand Wool-Ease DK. This is classified as a Light/DK 3 weight yarn made of 80% acrylic and 20% wool. There are 232 yards per skein. Available in 18 colors. It is machine washable. Avoid purchasing a dark colorway. 

AND 

OPTION 1 NEEDLES 

--1 set 7” long bamboo #4 (3.5 mm) Clover Takumi double pointed knitting needles. There are five needles in a set 

--1 set 7” long bamboo #6 (4 mm) Clover Takumi double pointed knitting needles. There are five needles in a set 

OR 

OPTION 2 NEEDLES 

--1 set 8” long natural bamboo ChiaoGoo double pointed knitting needles. There are five needles in a set 

--1 set 8” long natural bamboo ChiaoGoo double pointed knitting needles. There are five needles in a set 

AND 

--pair of small sharp scissors 
--laptop, iPad, or smartphone 
--pencil 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu. 

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken.

About the instructor 

Billie Theide is Professor Emerita and a former Chair of the Crafts Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Theide is a metalsmith, jeweler, textile artist, and ceramicist. Her work is in public art collections around the world including the Smithsonian, Museum of Arts & Design in New York City, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, and the Racine Art Museum, among others. She is the recipient of a Visual Arts Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and five Artists Fellowship Grants from the Illinois Arts Council. Theide has been recognized for her excellence in teaching and is a Distinguished Member and Past-President of the Society of North American Goldsmiths.